MMR seeks clear boundary lines of internal owners

Tuesday

May 27, 2008 at 2:00 AM

MassDevelopment, a quasi-state economic development agency, is seeking bids from land survey and engineering companies to untangle the mystery and draw clear lines of ownership on the Mass. Military Reservation.

GEORGE BRENNAN

The 22,000 acres squeezed among Falmouth, Bourne, Mashpee and Sandwich is a confusing mix of state and federal property known as the Massachusetts Military Reservation.

MassDevelopment, a quasi-state economic development agency, is seeking bids from land survey and engineering companies to untangle the mystery and draw clear lines of ownership on the base.

Carter Hunt, vice president of military initiatives at MassDevelopment, said the agency's real estate department has already done the complicated title examination, and now those findings need to be verified and put together into detailed maps that show boundaries and easements.

Massachusetts Military Reservation encompasses Otis Air Force Base, Camp Edwards and the National Cemetery.

MassDevelopment is accepting bids through June 13 and hopes to have the data compiled by mid-summer, Carter said.

Ultimately, the ownership information could set the stage for the Massachusetts National Guard to lease property to companies that complement the mission of the base.

Meanwhile, a second study is being done simultaneously that looks at economic diversification for the base, Hunt said.

"That study would identify locations on the military installation that are not needed immediately, that you don't wish to give up," Hunt said. "You may look at compatible activities."

Most of the revenue generated from leasing that property would stay with the Guard, Hunt said.

In 2006, the state Legislature overrode a veto by then-Gov. Mitt Romney to spend $1 million on future missions at the Massachusetts Military Reservation.

It's part of that money that's being used by MassDevelopment to research ownership of the 22,000 acres on the base, according to a spokeswoman for the Massachusetts National Guard.

Among the projects being worked on by MassDevelopment is the makeover of Fort Devens into the town of Devens.

The Massachusetts Military Reservation project is nothing on that scale, Hunt said. MassDevelopment took over the planning and development of Devens after that base was closed by the military.